European Paper Talk: Real Madrid close on Kepa Arrizabalaga signing

By Thomas McIlroy, Football Whispers

Thursday 30 November 2017 10:17, UK

January is fast approaching and teams across Europe will start to make moves to strengthen their squad in the winter transfer window.

Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the continental media for the latest news and transfer rumours.

Germany

Chelsea could enter the race for Mesut Ozil, whose contract at Arsenal is up in the summer. The German has been heavily linked with Barcelona. (Sport Bild)

Jurgen Klopp is now a potential candidate to take over at Bayern Munich at the end of the season when Jupp Heynckes leaves. Thomas Tuchel is also being considered, but a move for Julian Nagelsmann is unlikely, with the 30-year-old Hoffenheim boss being seen as too young for the job right now. (Sport Bild)

While Borussia Dortmund would love to bring Henrikh Mkhitaryan back to the club, it's unlikely they would be able to pay his wages or the fee demanded by Manchester United. (Kicker)

Spain

Real Madrid want a striker in January with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema only managing two league goals each so far this season. Top of the list is Inter's Mauro Icardi, but RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez and Krasnodar's Fedor Smolov are also being considered. (Marca)

Real Madrid will strengthen their goalkeeping options in January by bringing in Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga. The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Los Blancos will pay the buyout clause in his current deal, which stands at €20million (£17.6million). (Marca)

Gremio midfielder Arthur is a Barcelona transfer target. Their technical director Robert Fernandez was at the Copa Libertadores final to watch the 21-year-old. (AS)

Sergi Roberto is set to agree a new deal at Barcelona that would see him stay with the La Liga leaders until the summer of 2022. (Mundo Deportivo)

Italy

Mauro Icardi's agent and wife Wanda Nara says the striker only sees his future at Inter, despite being a Real Madrid transfer target. If he is to leave the San Siro, she says he'll cost €200million (£176million). (Corriere dello Sport)

Bologna midfielder Simone Verdi is on Inter's radar ahead of the January transfer window. He has four Serie A goals so far this season. (Tuttosport)

Portugal

After Everton failed to land Marco Silva, and before they turned to Sam Allardyce, they tried to get Benfica boss Rui Vitoria. But they were refused permission to speak to him, after only offering €6million (£5million), rather than the €15million (£13million) in the 47-year-old's contract. (O Jogo)

Lisandro Lopez, who is thought to be a Newcastle United transfer target, wants to leave Benfica in January, but is worried that the club may ask for more than what he's worth. (Record)

France

Valencia have started negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Javier Pastore, with owner Peter Lim flying to the French capital to discuss a deal for the Argentine. (Le10Sport)

Slovakia

Milan Skriniar's agent says he believes €40million (£35million) won't be enough to buy his client, who has been subject of Barcelona and Manchester City transfer talk. "He signed a five-year contract with Inter in the summer, so no one within the club is thinking about selling him," said Karol Csonto.

"It may happen that someone offers so much money that Inter have to consider it, but I don't want to speculate if it would be €50million (£44million) or €70million (£61million).

"He's doing really well in Milan, he's playing well so obviously his price is increasing. It's premature to talk about a move to Barcelona or Manchester City though. If Inter paid €25million (£22million) for Skriniar, I don't expect them to sell him for €40million or €50million. Inter aren't currently in a position where they'd have to sell players." (SME Sport)